Levanto Events, Fairs and Festivals

Our Levanto Events
section brings to you the local current events, festivals, fairs and
markets in this area of
Liguria...

The seaside promenade
in town

Levanto is a lively town with lots of activities on offer. As with most of the Coastal towns in Liguria , the summer months at Levanto have the richest program of events and festivities to enjoy:

Month of May - Levanto Events

Mangialonga : A not-to-be-missed gastronomic
walking which takes you on a fantastic 7 km walk through the villages
of the Levanto valley and their flavors. Until 2006 the event was held
twice a year (May and September), but since 2007 it is only held in
May.

The places are limited to 1,000 people so book in advance
(Centro
informazioni Occhioblu Tel: 0187 802626). The adult ticket will set you
back €23, while for children between the ages of 6 and 12 it will cost
€13 and kids below the age of 6 go for free.

It is a great event
allowing you to not only enjoy the beauty of the local area but also
taste some local specialities:
- Focaccia
con cipolle,
- Pane cotto a legna
e testa in cassetta,
- Torta di riso,
- Minestrone,
- Rosticciana con
fagioli,
- Polpo con patate,
- Fave e pecorino,
- Fritelle di Caccin etc.

Month of June - Levanto Events

Going to a Sagra while on your Italian holiday is a real must.
The whole event has a feel of a country fair where locals get together
for an evening’s celebration dedicated to a specific local food and
wine. Sagra del Gattafin held in June in Levanto
will give you the chance to enjoy a local culinary speciality which can
be described as fried pastry stuffed with spinach, onions, egg and
grated
cheese. And for more information of how a Sagra
works follow our
dedicated guide.

Month of July - Levanto Events

Festa Madonna del Soccorso is held on July
1-2nd in the nearby village of Fontona.

Festa di San Giacomo (Feast of St James) and Festa
del Mare (Festival of the Sea) are held on 24-25th of
July . This festival is one of the most exciting events of the
summer calendar in Levanto. It is dedicated to the Apostle San Giacomo
, the patron saint of sailors and marks memorable performances of local
historic group - Gruppo Storico Borgo e Valle di
Levanto
- as well as gives you the opportunity to taste some of the local
culinary specialities.

The festival is opened on the morning of July 24th with a small
parade procession in the center of town where the participants ware
mediviel costumes and the welcoming of the flag wavers. There is also a
flag-raising ceremony at the Monument of the Sailor.

source: www.eventiesagre.it

It is not until the late afternoon when the real procession
kicks. It is a reanactment of a mediviel tradition when the knights and
ladies belonging to the Da Passano lineage proceeded through the town’
streets, walking along Via Garibaldi towards the city walls to receive
guests coming from other families. The parade goes through the streets
of the town to the Medieval Loggia, where the Prior of the Brotherhood
tells the history of the Da Passano and the birth of the town of
Levanto.

source: www.panoramio.com/photo/25163091

Afterwards the historical procession departs from the Medieval
Loggia towards Piazza Cavour where traditional flag games take place.

source: www.lanazione.it

The event culminates on the evening of July 25th with a
religious procession caring the statue of San Giacomo departs from the
Medieval Loggia through the town streets, along the sea promenade and
ending at Scoglio della Pietra with commemoration of the missing at
sea. It is a special moment as 10,000 floating lanterns get released in
the sea water of the Gulf. And the festival ends with a spectacular
fireworks display.

Classical Music Festival Amfiteatrof Levanto –
this international classical music festival is held every summer since
1992 in
Levanto. It is dedicated to the grand cellist Massimo Amfiteatrof
and
his special connection to the town of Levanto where his family settled
in 1922.

The festival is marked with outstanding classical music
performances through the months of July and August. They were
originally held in the small cloister of the Convento dell’Annunziata,
then later moved to the churchyard of the parish church of Sant'Andrea,
but nowadays the concerts are organized in several locations around
town.

It is also in the month of July when the street markets
are in full
force in Levanto. Every Wednesday through the month, you can enjoy the
following markets :

Mercatino dell’Hobbista is held on 1st
Wednesday of July .

Mercatino dell’Artigianato is held on 2nd
Wednesday of July.

Mercatino Equo-Solidate is held on 3rd
Wednesday of July.

Mercatino dell’Antiquariato is held on 4th
Wednesday of July.

Month of August - Levanto Events

Festa di Nostra Signora Della Neve - celebrated
on August 5th.

Festa di San Rocco - celebrated on August
16th.

The Annual Crossing of the Gulf of Levanto - a
swimming competition held on the third Sunday in August.

Festa di Nostra Signora della Guardia -
celebrated on August 29th.

Autumn Months – Sep, Oct and Nov

StraLevanto - an annual cross-country
competition held on the second Sunday in October.

Festa di Sant’Andrea - The festival is held on November
30 to honor the ‘real’ patron of Levanto which many nowadays
mistake to be San Giacomo celebrated during the Festival of the Sea in
July. The festivities are organised by the City Council and the parish
church of Sant’Andrea.